The Cartesian Coordinate System Can Be Fun!

Teaching the Cartesian coordinate system can be fun when
placed in the context of students. The xy coordinate system offers many
opportunities for creativity and fun in the classroom.

Establish context.

Most students are interested to find out that the Cartesian
coordinate system was developed by the mathematician Descartes during an
illness. As he lay in bed, he noticed a fly buzzing around on the tiled
ceiling. He realized it would be possible to identify its unique position at
any given time and created the system when he recovered as a way to do that.

Students identify with this story, and you might even want
to give them an opportunity to tell a partner about a time when they themselves
were ill and confined to bed. You might even take a few minutes to discuss the
kinds of activities they do when they are sick.This is a wonderful way to
establish learning context.

Incorporate dance.

Instruction begins with the number line and the awareness that
positive means “to the right” and that negative means “to the left.” Substituting
the following words during the Cupid Shuffle is a fun way to reinforce this
concept and to integrate dance into the classroom:

“To the right, to the right – that’s positive, positive,

Left, to the left – that’s negative, negative,

Kick, now kick (resume lyrics)”

This activity gets the heart pumping which results in more
blood flow to the brain, and it releases all kinds of helpful brain chemicals,
too. In addition to these benefits, you will notice after a while that kids are
humming it to themselves as they work.

Make connections.

Introduce the Cartesian coordinate system simply as two
number lines. Since they already have knowledge of the number line, this means
their brains will be able to connect this new learning to something they
already know.

It makes sense that “down” would be negative and “up” would
be positive, and this is a good time to help students make connections to
science. Illustrate the concept with a thermometer and temperatures above and
below zero, and discuss also above and below sea level.

The more connections you can help students make, the more
authentic is the learning. And the more they are going to remember!

Build Vocabulary.

The two number lines of the Cartesian coordinate system divide
the plane into four quadrants – quad meaning 4. You may remind students that
quadrilaterals have four sides, and many of them will recognize the prefix from
ATV vehicles or four-wheelers which are frequently referred to as “quads.”

The coordinate system has its own vocabulary, and
introducing the terms at this point is a good idea. Word walls are the most
efficient way to build vocabulary so coordinate system words should be added as
you explain that each location or “point” has its own unique name called an “ordered
pair,” and so on.

Games and activities with words on the word wall are
invaluable to learning any new vocabulary!

Use It or Lose It!

Sometimes it is hard to find time to provide opportunities for
students to actually USE what they have learned. We all feel the time crunch
which propels us on to the next topic!

Here are suggestions for finding time for coordinate system practice
and repetition.

Brain Breaks

One way to find time for practice and repetition is to create
the Cartesian coordinate plane on the floor of your classroom. Masking tape
works really well on carpet since the vacuum will pass right across it. It will
work for bare floors, also, but you will want to speak with your custodian
first and ask if they would be willing to work around it for a couple of weeks.

There are a variety of ways to work with the floor coordinate
system. I sometimes give out ordered pairs at the door and students go stand in
that position at the beginning of class. At the end of learning cycles, I may
ask students to get up and stand in a particular quadrant according to the
letters which begin their first/last names. (“If your last name begins with
____, go to Quadrant II.” ) I might also classify them by homeroom, but in any
case this gives them a “brain break” and gives them practice navigating the
Cartesian plane.

After Test Activities

Time after tests is "found time" and can be an important part of classroom time management, helping you find time for students to use the skills they have learned about the Cartesian coordinate system.

Facebook Activity

This activity is my new favorite and gives students an opportunity
to use their knowledge of the Cartesian coordinate system in a creative way
that is right in the middle of their context.

Students must
create a profile for a point in either Quadrant I or III with the
profile picture being its graph. The idea here is that ordered pairs in
Quadrant I are both positive while both numbers are negative in Quadrant
III. Basically, then, everything in the third quadrant is negative
while everything in the first is "happy, happy, happy!"

The "Family" list should include points in the same quadrant, and the "Friends" list includes points in any other quadrant except the opposite one.

Favorite
songs and TV shows for Quadrant I points should be happy and upbeat
while those for points in Quadrant III should be serious and sad.

In
the About Me section, expect Quadrant I points to be happy and
positive, spending most of their time in activities such as playing,
dancing, and singing. Expect Quadrant III points to be sad and unhappy,
spending most of their time crying, pouting, or whining.

One of my
favorite parts of this assignment is a friend request they receive from
a point in the opposite quadrant. They must send an email to the point
explaining why they cannot be friend (too different, etc.)

As
an art opportunity, students must then draw pictures of their "home
quadrant." Quadrant I will typically be bright and colorful, and those
of Quadrant III will be gray, dark, and dreary.

Clicking on the picture of the assignment below will open the project
for printing.

Art Projects

Pictures on the Cartesian coordinate system created from a list of ordered pairs is
a fun activity. I require that all points be labeled properly with correctly
written ordered pairs and that points be connected accurately with a ruler.

Then I ask them to create their own picture, providing a
list of points which may be given to another student to plot.

Math Teaching Strategies Art in math serves as a vehicle for memory and helps students remember key concepts and vocabulary.

Context

Learning ContextAll learning must be placed in the learners
context if it is to have meaning.

Math Word Walls

Why Have a Math Word Wall?Why
have a math word wall? More than any other subject, math builds on what
is already known. The brain operates that way, too - attaching new
information to the old. So how can a math word wall help?

Word Wall Games: Scavenger HuntsWord
wall games are free reading games for practicing both sight word and
content area vocabulary. Scavenger hunts are ideal examples which are
fun and easy to adapt to specific needs.

Word Wall Super HeroesWord Wall Super Heroes make the words on your word walls come to life
for students as they create characters to fight evil doers.

Word Wall FamiliesThe activity of categorizing resides in one of the highest tiers of Bloom's taxonomy. When
combined with designing and creating a home for a word wall family, this
activity provides an opportunity for children to use word wall words to think
critically and be creative at the same time.

Math Centers

Math CentersMath
centers are one of the best math teaching strategies around.

Math Center ActivitiesElementary
and middle school math centers may include math labs in addition to
games and other fun learning activities.